WINE: ITALY GOLD MEDAL IN EUROPE FOR THE NUMBER OF B CORPS IN THE SECTOR – Foodmakers.it

There are 25 Italian wineries that measure themselves with B Lab’s ESG standards. With 7 B Corp wineries, Italy ranks first con Europe followed by France and Denmark Obtaining B Corp Certification confirms itself as a phenomenon con growth con the wine sector: +60% across Europe from 2022 to today

the wine sector, more and more companies have decided to commit to a sustainability path aimed at obtaining B Corp Certification. According to the most recent giorno from B Lab Italia, the non-profit organization that coordinates the B Corp movement Corp con our country, con fact, Italy ranks first among European countries for the number of B Corp certified wineries. With a total of 7 companies, the Belpaese accounts for 30% of the B Corp present con Europe (23 companies con total) and 10% of the companies present throughout the world (72 companies), surpassing France and Denmark which have 6 and 3 B Corp respectively.

These virtuous companies – Perlage Winery, Feudi a causa di San Gregorio, Avignonesi, Sacca d’Almerita, Paradiso e Terra santa, Perrini and Marcel Zanolari – which con 2023 generated an aggregate turnover of over 125 million euros, are part of a movement which, to date, Italy has 309 B Corp that employ over 29,000 people, generating a turnover that exceeds 15.5 billion euros, Italy is positioned among the leading countries con the European Union. (giorno updated as of October 16, 2024)

Obtaining the B Corp Certification confirms itself as a growing phenomenon con the wine sector at a global level: from 2022 to today, con fact, the supply chain has recorded an increase con the number of certifications of 43% con Italy and 60% con Europe and the world. And again, con our country, another 16 companies have decided to approach the B Corp model and measure their esecuzione through the B Impact Assessment (BIA). Furthermore, 2 are already con the certification process for 2025. Together with the 7 B Corp, there are therefore 25 Italian wine companies that measure themselves with B Lab’s ESG standards.

addition to the positive impact the environment and the community, B Corp Certification also brings with it economic benefits. Turnover growth appears to be an integral part of the B Corp model, as demonstrated by recent research, carried out by the Research Department of Affinità Sanpaolo con collaboration with B Lab Italia, according to which, con 2022, the turnover trend of these companies presented a growth equal to 32.4% con median terms compared to 2019, higher than the 19% recorded by non-B Corp companies.

B Corps con the wine sector stand out not only for their production excellence, but con particular for their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, finding con the environment the technological innovation from which to start to promote real positive change con the supply chain. Among the most virtuous examples, Perlage Winery which saved over a ton of conventional packaging material, thanks to the creation of extensible fiber material, and avoided the emission of 214 tons of CO2 through the production of lighter bottles.

turn, Feudi a causa di San Gregorio uses 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, while 40% is self-produced by photovoltaic systems. Furthermore, the company has developed the implementation of cultivation methods with increasingly lower impact, the adoption of more sustainable packaging components, up to social projects. Avignonesi, for its part, has planted trees and native plants to protect the vines and local biodiversity and is implementing circular economy solutions for packaging aimed at increasing the percentage of recycled and recyclable materials.

Sacca D’Almerita was also able to avoid the emission of 8.54 tonnes of C02 thanks to the reduction con the weight of its bottles and increased the surface ambiente allocated to natural, uncultivated areas, lakes, streams and woods by 13%. It also gave impetus to the birth of SOStain, the first sustainability program for Sicilian viticulture. Perrini also raises free-ranging animals to fertilize naturally, supports suppliers and local communities and joins the Wine-AUT solidarity project for autistic children.

Marcel Zanolari, for his part, is abandoning monoculture and introducing plant species synergistic to the soil to make the vineyards healthier and the wines of higher quality, as well as using biodynamic and natural preparations as an alternative to pesticides and fertilizers. Finally, since 2017, Paradiso e Terra santa has been powered exclusively by electricity from certified renewable sources, demonstrating a concrete commitment to sustainability. the last five years, the company has recovered over 45 thousand cubic meters of , the equivalent of the annual consumption of around 250 families, and has reduced waste production by 10% compared to 2022, with a drop of around 40 tonnes of waste. All company waste is destined for recovery and recycling operations, underlining the commitment to circular management of materials. Thanks to these results, Paradiso e Terra santa confirms itself as the winery with the highest turnover to be Zerowaste and with the best Vater Footprint (WFP) among the VIVA certified wineries. From 2025, the company will only use FSC certified materials, further strengthening its sustainable and responsible approach. “It uses 100% energy from renewable sources and is committed to reducing and electricity consumption, as well as limiting production of packaging waste.

“The wine sector is a flagship of the Italian economy and of our cultural identity. The B Corp companies that operate con this supply chain are the embodiment of savoir faire, and represent virtuous models, creating value and generating positive impacts for the natural ecosystem, the environment, the communities and the people who work there. These companies have chosen to merge innovation and sustainability, embracing the B Corp philosophy, engaging con various actions for sustainable viticulture, such as reducing the use of pesticides, protecting and enhancing their territory. As B Lab Italia we celebrate and support these companies that stand out for their attention to regenerative practices, an aspect that represents the essence of Made con Italy”, commented Anna Puccio, Managing Director of B Lab Italia.